Brake-beam suspension.



T. L. BURTON.

BRAKE BEAM SUSPENSION.

APPLICATION mzo JUNE 30. Hill.

Patented Apr. 2, 1918.

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UN STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS L. BURTON, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN BRAKE COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

BRAKE-BEAM SUSPENSION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Apr. 2, 1918.

Application filed June 30, 1917. Serial No. 177,999.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS L. BURTON, a citizen of the United States, residingat St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Brake-Beam Suspensions, of which improvement the following is a specification.

This invention relates to suspension means for brake beams for railway cars, and more particularly to that form of brake beam 1n which the brake shoes are pivoted upon trunnions at the opposite ends of the beam, one of the objects being to provide improved means for maintaining the beam in a substantially parallel relation as the brake beam and shoe are moved toward the wheel in the application movement and away from the same during the release action whereby the shoe will remain substantially concentric to the wheel under the various conditions of wear of the brake shoe and the wheel.

It has heretofore been proposed to provide in addition to the two hangers at the ends of the beam, an intermediate or central hanger pivotally connected to a bracket on the frame and to a special jaw at the mid- According to the construction shown in the drawing, the brake beam 10, is provided with trunnions 11, at its ends, on which are plvotally mounted the brake heads 13.

- The usual hangers 12, pivotally connected to the brake beam or brake head and to the truck frame, serve as a support for the same and permit a free swinging movement.

Where the usual type of clasp brake rigging is employed, with two sets of truck levers and rods one on each side of the truck, such as truck levers 14, and rods 15 and 16, which parts are duplicated at each side of each pair of wheels, the brake beams are provided with rigidly connected jaws 20, for pivotal connection with the lower ends of said'truck levers, as will be readily understood.

In accordance with my improvementan additional hanger plate 17 is rigidly secured to a bracket 21, on the truck frame, said plate being provided with a bifurcated lower end, preferably by riveting thereto the piece 17 with the spacing rivets 22, and 19, separated a given distance to act as a guide for the curved tongue or plate 18 rigidly secured to the brake beam 10. The tongue 18, is curved on such an are as to cooperate with the radius of the hanger links 12, and maintain the brake beam substantially concentric with the wheel during its application and release movements.

The additional hanger may be located at the middle of the brake beam or two of such hangers may be located at other intermediate points at either side of the center if preferred.

This additional rigid hanger andcurved tongue plate also have the advantage of giving a more secure support for the brake rigging and at the same time may be used in many truck designs where a pivoted link is inapplicable.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a brake device, the combination with a brake beam having hanger links at its opposite ends, of a hanger plate rigidly supported on the frame and provided with a guide opening at its lower end, and a curved tongue rigidly secured to the brake beam and extending through said guide opening.

- 2. In a brake device, the combination with a brake beam having hanger links at its opposite ends, of a hanger plate rigidly supported on the frame and provided with a bifurcated lower end and guide pins, and a hanger plate rigidly supported on the. a curved tongue rigidly secured to the brake frame and provided with a guide opening 10 beam and extending between said guide pins. at its lower end, and a curved tongue rigidly 3. In a brake device, the combination of secured to the brake beam between said jaws 5 a brake beam having hangers at its opposite and extending through said guide opening. ends and provided with jaws, two sets of In testimony whereof I have hereunto set truck brake levers, one at each side of the my hand.

truck, pivotally connected with said jaws, THOMAS L. BURTON. 

